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Russell Lyrics
All the air sucked out the room
I'm living in
Now I'm forswearing the hustle
Come to mine and tell your
Tales of strange parades
Of strange parades
Russell.
Through the mullioned window,
Saw you type away
BASIC, FORTRAN, and in COBOL
In your snifter, soda laced with aspartame
With aspartame
Russell.
Now I'm in the woods in Saratoga Springs
Writing hit songs about cars and girls
I'll thank you by name
With my Grammy in my hands
In my hands
Russell.
I'm living in
Now I'm forswearing the hustle
Come to mine and tell your
Tales of strange parades
Of strange parades
Russell.
Saw you type away
BASIC, FORTRAN, and in COBOL
In your snifter, soda laced with aspartame
With aspartame
Russell.
Writing hit songs about cars and girls
I'll thank you by name
With my Grammy in my hands
In my hands
Russell.
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I don't know this for sure, but I think Russell might be Mike's brother. In his memoir, Mike mentions that his brother (who had mental issues, was once institutionalized and lived off and on out of his car) spent hours writing code on his laptop "in antiquated computer languages like COBOL and FORTRAN."
It may just be a reusing of the image, but the tone of how he describes his brother in his memoir and fits with this song.
@emd
Thanks for posting this. I've been looking to read his book. The lyrics didn't make any sense to me unless it was a personal reference. It has been driving me mad!
http://www.mikedoughty.com/2008/05?cat=3
"Arthur Russell was this fascinating New York guy, in the old dirty arty New York. He was a gay dude with huge acne scars that played the cello and sang songs and made obscure disco records. "
Not sure if it's about this dude.